Kalanchoe plant named ‘Don Sergio’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Don Sergio’, characterized by its upright, uniform and vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; double orange-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Don Sergio’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Don Sergio’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new double-flowered Kalanchoe cultivarswith attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands in October, 2004, of aproprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as codenumber 19991905-001, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with aproprietary selection of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana identified as codenumber 20040957-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thecultivar Don Sergio was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands in August,2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands sinceFebruary, 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoeare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Don Sergio has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature,daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Don Sergio’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Don Sergio’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe:

-   -   1. Upright, uniform and vigorous growth habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Double orange-colored flowers.    -   6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are smaller than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller leaves than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have double flowers whereas        plants of the female parent have single flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can also be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have smaller leaves than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoeblossfeldiana cultivar Don Juan, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.17,576. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Naaldwijk, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of thecultivar Don Juan in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of        the cultivar Don Juan.    -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Don Juan.    -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller leaves than plants of        the cultivar Don Juan.    -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flowered one week later than        plants of the cultivar Don Juan.    -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Kalanchoe were orange in color        whereas flowers of plants of the cultivar Don Juan were red in        color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Kalanchoe.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Don Sergio’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a topperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Don Sergio’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofthe upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves (left), a typicalinflorescence (center) and a typical flower (left).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands in aglass-covered greenhouse during the winter and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and light levels ranged fromabout 5 kilolux to 60 kilolux. Plants grown in 12-cm containers receivedlong day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for aboutsix weeks; plants then received photoinductive short day/long nightconditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants wereabout 15 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken.In the detailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Don    Sergio.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            blossfeldiana identified as code number 19991905-001, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe            blossfeldiana identified as code number 20040957-001, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Upright, uniform and moderately vigorous growth            habit. Very freely flowering with numerous compound cymes.            Inverted triangle with rounded crown. Appropriate for 10-cm            to 13-cm containers.        -   Plant height at flowering.—About 20 cm.        -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; usually about 16            lateral branches develop per plant.        -   Length.—About 8 cm to 14 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 5 mm to 10 mm.        -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 143A to 143B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.        -   Length, generative plants.—About 4.5 cm to 11 cm.        -   Width, generative plants.—About 3 cm to 7 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous, leathery;            succulent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 146A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, lighter than 147B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 4            mm to 6 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Lighter than            146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habits.—Double flowers arranged            singly in compound dichasial cymes that arise from leaf            axils. Uniform and freely flowering habit with usually about            10 to 16 flowers developing per inflorescence. Flowers not            fragrant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe            initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night            conditions or during the late autumn/winter/early spring.            Flower initiation and development can also be induced under            artificial short day/long conditions (at least 14 hours of            darkness).        -   Time to flower.—Under short day/long night photoinductive            conditions, about 70 days are required. Actual time to            flower is primarily dependent upon temperature and light            intensity.        -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production            longevity; flowers maintain good substance for about six            weeks under interior environmental conditions. Flowers            persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 2 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.5 cm to 3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elliptic to ovoid. Length: About 6 mm to            10 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm. Color: Close to 2D,            becoming closer to 39C with development.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: About 20 fused at the base. Length            (largest petals): About 1.2 cm to 1.5 cm. Width (largest            petals): About 5 mm. Aspect: Slightly upright to eventually            recurved. Shape: Spatulate. Apex: Apiculate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 30A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 20D; occasionally overlain            with close to 37B. Fully opened, upper surface: Towards the            apex, close to 30C; towards the base, close to 30B. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 29D overlain with close to            37B to 37C.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About            9 mm. Width: About 2 mm to 2.5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth; glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm.            Aspect: Mostly erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4 mm to 7 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Aspect: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close            to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight            per flower. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 0.5 mm.            Anther color: Close to 165B. Amount of pollen: None            observed. Gynoecium: Pistil number: About four to six per            flower. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Style length: About            1.5 mm. Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma shape: Rounded.            Stigma color: Close to 154D. Ovary color: Between 145A and            145B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to    Kalanchoes.

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Don Sergio’ as illustratedand described.